The body of Edward Slevin was found in the river last Sunday evening, between 6 and 7 o'clock, by Washington Cougler, whilst riding in a skiff. The spot where it was found is about midway between the foot of Fifth and Sixth streets, and about forty feet from shore. His watch, known certainly by makers' and repairer's numbers, his keys, pocket wallet, visiting cards with his name on them, two tickets for Madame Sontag's concert, two or three small coins, and some papers known to be his, were found on his person. His clothes were perfectly well known; the body itself was not so much decayed as was at first supposed, and it was as surely and unmistakenly recognized by his family and friends as even if living. As no marks of violence could be discovered, there cannot be the least doubt but his death was the result of accident. It is now evident, as was at first supposed, that he was the person who took a cup of coffee at Joe Taylor's cellar, on the wharf, between Third and Fourth streets, that night about half-past 12 o'clock. The belief that he went to that cellar to get a cup of coffee was from the first thought to be likely, because of the fact of being disappointed in the lunch he and his friends expected to get at the Louisville Hotel, and the hour also corresponds, he having left the hotel and parted from his friends 15 or 20 minutes after 12 o'clock, and after being there about 10 minutes, during which be talked kindly to this colored man, and then said, "ood-bye, Uncle," in his usual gentle way, it is most likely he started down for the foot of Sixth street, the direct way home. Now the night being the most stormy known, as is said for 11 years, his hat may have been blown off and in trying to recover it he may have got too far into the water, or he may have made a misstep at the high curb corner of Fourth street, or in attempting to go on board of some boat, as some thought, been forced by the high wind off the plank, or the force of the wind alone might have blown him into the water, as the river was nearly up to the curb and the waves like a storm at sea. This is the more probable as it is known that two other men were blown into the water at the wharf that night and got very much wet. It will be recollected that several coalboats, together with many of their crews, were lost in the river that night. Nobody either saw or heard of Edward Slevin after the hour at which the person believed to be him left Joe Taylor's. He had an engagement with a lady friend to go to Madame Sontag's concert on Monday night, (next day), and the young lady waited all ready till long after 9 o'clock, feeling certain he would come, (knowing his punctuality), unless detained by sickness or some sad casualty. Though his loss is more sad, the conviction that his death was the result of accident, is consoling to his family and friends, and confirm, what was believed, that he had not a single enemy on earth.
Louisville (Kentucky) Daily Journal, June 15, 1854.